Organisations & Operators,

Jet2.com is giving skiers and snowboarders the chance to grab a piste of the action in the French, Swiss, Austrian and Italian Alps nice and early, after putting its Ski programme on sale from across ten of its UK bases earlier than ever before for Winter 24/25.
After experiencing strong demand from customers wanting to book ahead, the leading leisure airline has put a flurry of seven ski destinations – Chambery, Geneva, Grenoble, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Lyon and Turin earlier than ever. The ski flights have been put on sale from mid-December 2024 to 31st March 2025, representing 34 ski routes and over 60 weekly ski flights during peak periods.
This is the earliest Jet2.com has ever put its Ski programme on sale, with ski flight on sale from ten of its UK bases (Belfast International, Bristol, Birmingham, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle International and London Stansted), and it comes in direct response to strong demand from snow sports fans looking to secure their place on the slopes. The early release of the Ski programme means customers can unlock the slopes well in advance and lock in great-price ski flights for next winter.
Offering a choice of services to many of these sensational ski destinations, the flights provide fantastic flexibility and are perfectly timed for skiers and snowboarders looking to slope off to the snow – whether for a weekend, long weekend, or longer mid-week break.
In addition to this wide choice of destinations, dates and flights, customers booking and travelling on ski flights with Jet2.com get to enjoy VIP customer service which has seen the UK’s third largest airline win numerous awards and accolades. Customers can also enjoy as 10kg hand luggage and 22kg baggage* and 22kg ski carriage* with Jet2.com.ADVERTISEMENTJet2.com’s full Ski programme for Winter 24/25 is as follows:
Chambery – ski flights on sale from five UK bases (Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and London Stansted), offering quick and easy access to world-famous ski resorts in France, including the Three Valleys. The popular ski areas of the Alpe d’Huez, Chamonix, La Plagne and Val d’Isère are easily accessible from Chambery, providing memorable skiing whether you are a beginner or an expert.Geneva – a huge programme of ski flights on sale from nine UK bases (Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, London Stansted, Manchester and Newcastle International). With 32 weekly flights departing during key times, Geneva offers ski enthusiasts some of the very best ski resorts, including Tignes, Flaine, Verbier, Zermatt and the Three Valleys.Salzburg – ski flights on sale from eight UK bases (Belfast International, Birmingham, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, London Stansted, Manchester and Newcastle International). Salzburg opens-up the best of the Austrian Alps and over 300 resorts, including Kaprun, Mayrhofen and Obertauern to skiers.Grenoble – the host of the 1968 Winter Olympics, Grenoble offers the perfect gateway to the French Alps, with over 175 incredible ski resorts nearby, including Morzine, Chamonix, Chamrousse, Les Deux Alpes, Alpe d’Huez and Avoriaz. On sale from Birmingham, London Stansted, Manchester and Newcastle International.Turin – the legacy of Turin’s 2006 Winter Olympics means that skiers can enjoy speedy transfers to well-established skiing resorts, such as Pila, Vars, Le Corbier and Val d’Isere. With 400km of piste at the Milky Way area alongside the stunning mountainous backdrop of the Monterosa network, there is plenty to go at with services available from Birmingham and Manchester.Innsbruck – skiers and snowboarders can access the Tyrolean capital from Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, London Stansted and Manchester. Innsbruck hosted the 1964 Winter Olympics and resorts, such as Igls, Alpbach and St Anton am Arlberg make it a firm favourite with skiers and snow sports fans year in year out.Lyon – with weekly flights on sale from Manchester Airport, snow sports fans have direct access to several major French ski resorts, such as Tignes, Les Arcs and Alpe d’Huez, as well several smaller ski resorts for those looking to get away from the crowds.Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “Customers have been telling us how much they want to secure their place on the slopes next winter, so we have responded to that demand by putting a brilliant ski programme on sale for Winter 24/25 nice and early from across ten UK bases. With seven top ski destinations on sale, it means skiers and snowboarders can book ahead and get access to some of the best ski resorts in the world. On top of offering a fantastic choice of flights, we are giving snow sports fans the chance to fly with our award-winning airline and benefit from our VIP customer service. With so many customers wanting to book ahead, we are anticipating the early release of the programme to be extremely popular and are confident of another successful and busy ski season next winter.”
Ski destinations by base for Winter 24/25:
Belfast International Airport – Salzburg (weekly services).Birmingham Airport – Chambery (up to two weekly services), Geneva (up to five weekly services), Grenoble (weekly services), Innsbruck (weekly services), Salzburg (weekly services) and Turin (weekly services).Bristol Airport – Chambery (weekly services), Geneva (weekly services) and Innsbruck (weekly services).East Midlands Airport – Geneva (weekly services) and Salzburg (weekly services).Edinburgh Airport – Geneva (up to two weekly services), Salzburg (weekly services) and Innsbruck (weekly services).Glasgow – Geneva (weekly services).Leeds Bradford Airport – Chambery (weekly services), Geneva (up to seven weekly services) and Salzburg (weekly services).London Stansted Airport – Chambery (up to two weekly services), Geneva (up to seven weekly services), Grenoble (weekly services), Innsbruck (weekly services) and Salzburg (weekly services).Manchester Airport – Chambery (up to three weekly services), Geneva (up to seven weekly services), Grenoble (up to two weekly services), Innsbruck (up to three weekly services), Lyon (weekly services), Salzburg (weekly services) and Turin (weekly services).Newcastle International Airport – Geneva (weekly services), Grenoble (weekly services) and Salzburg (weekly services).

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Airline Profitability Outlook Strengthens

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14 years of flydubai More

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), announced that leaders of the global aviation industry are gathering in Istanbul, Türkiye, for the 79th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit, with Pegasus Airlines as the host airline.
The event (4-6 June) attracts the industry’s most senior leaders from among IATA’s more than 300 member airlines, as well as senior government officials, strategic partners, equipment suppliers, and media.
“In a few days, Istanbul will become the aviation capital of the world. Airlines will meet to review the industry’s recovery from COVID-19, to plan the way forward to a more sustainable future, to discuss the opportunities for technology to drive efficiencies from modern retailing to improved facilitation, and to understand the common regulatory challenges they face. Aviation is important. Connecting the world even as geopolitical divides deepen is a vital mission that requires profitable, safe, efficient and sustainable airlines. The outcomes of this AGM must set the direction for even more effective global connectivity,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Pegasus Airlines, and Chair of the IATA Board of Governors Mehmet T. Nane said: “We are enormously proud to be hosting our industry partners in the great city of Istanbul and look forward to welcoming everyone here for the IATA AGM, particularly as we look ahead to our 100th aircraft milestone on the 100th anniversary of Republic of Türkiye later this year. Aviation came together to assist the people of Türkiye to rebuild after the tragic earthquake in February. Now aviation comes together to debate vital issues concerning our pathway to net-zero CO2 in 2050, the diversity of our industry, our operational recovery from the depths of COVID, and many other topics.”
World Air Transport SummitThe World Air Transport Summit immediately follows the AGM.ADVERTISEMENTThe ever-popular CEO Insights Panel moderated by CNN’s Richard Quest will feature Greg Foran (CEO, Air New Zealand), Yvonne Manzi Makolo (CEO, Rwandair), John W. Dietrich (President and CEO, Atlas Air Worldwide) and Campbell Wilson (CEO and MD, Air India).
In addition to the updated industry economic outlook, key topics to be addressed include:
A ‘Big Picture’ view of challenges facing the industry with changing energy markets and shifting supply chainsAviation’s contribution to Türkiye’s earthquake recoveryAdvances in sustainabilityLearnings from the 2022 operational challengesA highlight will be the fourth edition of the Diversity and Inclusion Awards sponsored by Qatar Airways. These awards recognize organizations and individuals who are making a difference in helping to drive the industry’s 25by2025 initiative to make the aviation industry more gender balanced.
See the full AGM program
This will be the second time that the AGM is hosted in Istanbul, which last hosted in 2008. Türkiye is rebounding strongly from the pandemic shut down. In 2022 travel to/from Türkiye increased nearly 60% and it is now the 7th largest international passenger market in the world.
“Since we were last in Istanbul, Türkiye has become an incredible global aviation powerhouse. Its carriers are leading the way in regional and international connectivity, and the magnificent new airport puts some other nations’ lack of airport investment to shame. There’s no doubt that Türkiye’s importance to global aviation will continue to grow significantly,” said Walsh.

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QANTAS GEARS UP FOR NEW YORK FLIGHTS WITH NEW AIRCRAFT, DESIGNER PJS AND NEW MENU ITEMS More

Luxtripper has announced the appointment of Alex Marples as its chief commercial officer.
In this newly-created role, he will lead the expansion the commercial teams, setting the stage for the next stage of growth.
With a wealth of diverse leadership experience spanning over 15 years, Marples brings a strong track record in driving commercial growth in fast-moving organisations.
These include time as chief operating officer of at Crowdfunder UK, director of service operations at the Department of Health & Social Care and operations director at Domestic & General.
Luxtripper specialises in tailormade luxury travel for the modern consumer, with a portfolio of experiential, once-in-a-lifetime escapes to all corners of the globe. ADVERTISEMENTFounded by chief executive, Nena Chaletzos, in 2015 to tackle the complexity of planning a luxury holiday, the business built its own innovative technology to make the process of trip building quick and simple, matching busy customers to destinations in seconds and creating multi-component itineraries in a fraction of the time.
Marples said: “I am delighted to be embarking on this fantastic new role. Nena and the board have taken the business to incredible heights over the last eight years, and I have been incredibly impressed by their vision, values and ambition for the future.
“The potential of Luxtripper as it continues to leverage technology to make complex luxury travel planning simple is really exciting, and I’m looking forward to playing my part in developing and transforming the commercial function as we enter this next stage of growth.”

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Highland Base – Kerlingarfjöll to open this summer More

Summer is just around the corner, and there is no better place to kick off the fun than at Walt Disney World Resort. Families can celebrate the end of the school year, mark graduation milestones for deserving students, and say thank you to dad on his special day.  Of course, summer is also the perfect time to experience all the thrills the resort has to offer. 
With world-famous theme parks, seasonal festivals, recreation of all kinds and delicious dining destinations, Walt Disney World sets the stage for an unforgettable summer. Here are eight magical ways to start the fun!
Stroll through the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival
Explore lush gardens, sample sweet and savory bites at more than 15 Outdoor Kitchens, and shop new festival merchandise collections at this beautiful festival, which takes place now through July 5. Stop by EPCOT Farmers Feast Outdoor Kitchen to enjoy its seasonally changing menu, and cap off the fun with the Garden Rocks Concert Series featuring nightly performances by internationally recognized artists. Upcoming performances include Rick Springfield on Sunday and Monday of Memorial Day Weekend and the Plain White T’s June 2 to 5. During Father’s Day weekend, Vertical Horizon plays on Friday and Saturday with Tony Orlando playing Sunday and Monday nights. Between festival activities, take time to explore popular park attractions like Soarin’ Around the World, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
Reward a graduate’s hard work with special merchandise and a personalized celebration button ADVERTISEMENTA visit to a Disney theme park is an unforgettable day for any grad. Celebrate this momentous occasion with a Mickey Mouse graduation hat or a Stitch graduation plush, the perfect way to add a special touch to the day. Hats are available at several merchandise locations and can be personalized with custom embroidery at Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories in the Disney Springs Marketplace or Curtain Call Collectibles in Magic Kingdom Park. Guests can also grab a celebration button from merchandise locations across the resort and get it personalized at Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Magic Kingdom Park or Disney’s Days of Christmas in the Disney Springs Marketplace. 
Mark graduation with a “Capture Your Moment” session
Graduates can grab their caps and schedule a 20-minute “Capture Your Moment” photo session with a Disney PhotoPass photographer at any of the four theme parks to add an extra dose of magic to their celebrations. Advance reservations are highly recommended and can be made on the Enchanting Extras page of DisneyWorld.com. 
Spend quali-tee time together while golfing at a Walt Disney World golf course
Fore a fun time, consider a round of golf at one of the Walt Disney World golf courses. With courses ranging from 9 to 18 holes laid out across acres of beautiful Florida landscape, it’s a great way to unplug and spend time in nature while celebrating. Par-tee on! Advanced reservations are highly recommended and can be booked online.
Take the family on a guided fishing excursion
Fishing excursions at Walt Disney World are one of the resort’s best kept secrets, and both experienced and new anglers can enjoy fishing on beautiful lakes and lagoons. Friends and families can choose 2- or 4-hour guided catch-and-release outings that depart from many Disney resort hotel marinas. Each excursion includes an experienced guide, rod and reel, tackle and bait. It is a fantastic way to spend quality time with family while taking in breathtaking vistas. For more information, visit the fishing page on DisneyWorld.com. 
Experience #AlltheDisneyThrills
Guests can kick off summer fun with a thrilling attraction for everyone in the family at Walt Disney World Resort. They can set out on a whitewater adventure through a lush jungle in the heart of Asia on Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, put their own concept car to the test on Test Track Presented by Chevrolet or be dazzled by incredible fireworks as Happily Ever After Presented by Pandora lights up the night sky over Magic Kingdom Park. Guests looking to thrill their tastes buds won’t want to miss the newly opened Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which serves up barbecue-inspired fare family style – a perfect to start to the summer barbecue season. 
Pamper parents with full-service spa treatments
Parents deserve an end-of-school-year treat too, and mom and dad can spend time relaxing with revitalizing treatments at Walt Disney World Resort. At The Grand Floridian Spa, spoil them with an array of services such as massages, manicures and more. Dad can also receive his very own special treatment at the Art of Shaving at Disney Springs, where expertly trained Master Barbers are ready to indulge him with a premium shave, haircut or scalp therapy experience. 
Bring everyone together for dinner  
Signature dining at Walt Disney World offers endless variety for every palate – from a taste of market-inspired cuisine at California Grill in Disney’s Contemporary Resort to the continental inspiration of Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera at Disney’s Riviera Resort. Advance reservations are highly recommended and can be made through the MyDisneyExperience app. 
To experience any in-park offerings, guests must have valid theme park admission and may need a theme park reservation depending on type of admission and date of visit. Guests can visit DisneyWorld.com for more information about planning their visit.

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RIU receives six British Airways Holidays awards

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Lights, Camera, Action! Today, LEGOLAND® California Resort announces Summer Block Party, which will include never-before-seen shows, new costume characters, and plenty of bricktastic fun. Visitors can celebrate the summer season in the best way possible – with spectacular performances.“Each year, we look for something new and exciting to add to the LEGOLAND California experience,” said President of LEGOLAND California Resort Kurt Stocks. “Our hope is that each show leaves families with smiles on their faces, music in their heads, and unforgettable memories in their hearts.”
The ultimate adventure, Summer Block Party, kicks off on May 27th and runs throughout the season. Get ready for a lineup of thrilling performances and experiences, including:
GO Xtreme!: Inspired by the LEGO® City hit TV show, this new performance premieres in June and features gnarly extreme sports stunts that’ll have guests on the edge of their seats. Hold your breath and witness the BMX riders, scooters, and skateboarders flip and soar into the air. You’ll even have the chance to help the fun-loving judges decide which performances are best.The LEGOLAND Summer Jam: Enjoy fun in the sun listening to your favorite hits from all the eras in this all-singing, all-dancing summer fest concert. The LEGOLAND Summer Jam features the LEGOLAND Brass Band with special guests LEGO® Banana Guy and LEGO® Rocker. Pirate Captain’s Swashbuckling Jig: Arrrgh! Join Pirate Captain and his crew as they travel through Pirate Shores. Help find the missing key to open the treasure chest. Oh, and watch out for those cannonballs!Once Upon a Brick – The Tale of the Unicorn Knight: This silly slapstick comedy “Once Upon a Brick” is sure to make all guests giggle and smile. Visit the Castle Stage to see Kingdom characters like the King or the Unicorn Knight come to life in this interactive storytelling show.School of Spinjitzu: Witness the kicks and tricks of ninja masters! Learn to kick, chop, spin, and balance just like a Ninja Master in this interactive martial arts style show. Benny’s Dance Party: Head over to Benny’s Dance Party to join the astronaut crew in this energetic, fun-filled show. It’s going to be a blast!  The Awesome Suit Crew: The Awesome Suit Crew welcomes visitors into the Park with live mashups of current songs with an 80s twist. They’re sure to kick off the day in like, a totally awesome way!DJ Brick Beatz: The perfect cap to a fun day at the Park, DJ Brick Beatz will leave visitors singing techno tunes. This is the chance for kids to showcase the latest dance crazes.The LEGOLAND Hotel and LEGOLAND Castle Hotel are joining the Block Party with fun summer programming, including:
Brick Boogie: Bringing a whole new meaning to Kids Club, check out the kids’ nightclub at LEGOLAND Hotel. Dance the night away to DJ tracks under a glittering disco ball on the light-up dance floor.“Knightly” Entertainment: The LEGOLAND Castle Hotel features “knightly” entertainment! Meet and greet with LEGO® characters on the Royal Stage featuring Merlin’s Magic Show, listen to fairytale story times, and learn something new at Kid’s Knight School.LEGOLAND believes awesome is for everyone! As of this year, all LEGOLAND Resorts in North America became Certified Autism Centers by working with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards to train and certify staff in sensory, environmental, and emotional awareness – ensuring families can build a bricktastic vacation and make unforgettable memories. Also new this year, LEGOLAND California unveiled the world’s first LEGO version of San Diego in MINILAND USA.
A team of 70 Master Model Builders from all around the world constructed this 1:20 scale version of San Diego out of more than five million LEGO bricks. The city, which features landmarks hand-picked by LEGOLAND fans, includes a realistic 30-foot beach, streets lined with 120 palm trees, and 55 San Diego landmarks, including The Rady Shell, Petco Park, and Coronado Bridge.ADVERTISEMENTBeyond Summer Block Party, LEGOLAND California Resort will treat visitors to a slate of reimagined events and bring back signature experiences throughout the year, including:
Red, White, and BOOM! (Summer): The summer heats up at LEGOLAND California Resort with a star-spangled 4th of July celebration: Red, White & BOOM! Throughout the day, kids of all ages can participate in all-American family picnic games and building activities. At night, the evening fireworks show combines patriotic music with dazzling pyrotechnics.Brick-or-Treat (Fall): The Monster Party returns! Brick-or-Treat will bewitch LEGOLAND California Resort with tons of candy, engaging shows, LEGO® costume characters, and more!Holidays at LEGOLAND (Winter): Celebrate the season with a Holiday event the whole family will enjoy! Children will have the opportunity to meet LEGO Santa and enjoy a series of seasonal activities, builds, and adventures throughout the Resort.LEGOLAND California’s full 2023 operating calendar can be found here. https://www.legoland.com/california/things-to-do/seasonal-events/
For more information about LEGOLAND® California, visit our website or follow us on Facebook.  To book a Vacation Package at LEGOLAND® Hotel, visit our Vacation Packages page. Guests can also purchase single-day tickets or annual passes with or without a hotel stay.

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1 HOTEL MAYFAIR, THE SUSTAINABLE HOSPITALITY BRAND’S UK FLAGSHIP, IS NOW ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS

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BRITISH AIRWAYS UNVEILS FIVE NEW AVIOS-ONLY FLIGHTS, INCLUDING EASTER HOLIDAY TRAVEL More

As part of its ongoing commitment to travel agents, river cruise and touring specialist, APT has announced the appointment of Holly Piggott to the newly created role of sales executive.
She will support an expanded sales team and key partners at the operator during a time of exciting growth. ADVERTISEMENTPiggott has been part of the APT family since 2019, so brings a detailed understanding of the luxury APT and flexible, four-star Travelmarvel brands, their trade partners and customers to the role.
First joining the company as a reservations consultant, she has worked closely with the trade, handling their enquiries and helping agents to maximise sales opportunities.
Eager to develop within the business, Holly’s professionalism and attention to detail saw her promoted to after sales team leader, where she excelled in enhancing the customer experience, and developed a keen understanding of what is needed to deliver service of the highest standard.
More Information
Agents can find more information about APT & Travelmarvel here.

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Ampaw-Farr to offer IWTTF keynote address

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Amadeus ecosystem approach to lead transformation of hospitality sector More

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is now accepting submissions for the PATA Face of the Future 2023. The deadline for submissions is July 15, 2023. PATA is a not-for-profit membership association that acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. As part of its activities, the Association is dedicated to human capital development (HCD) across the travel and tourism industry value chain. The primary focus of the Association’s HCD programme is the development of future leaders in the tourism industry.
To highlight PATA’s commitment to HCD, the Association presents a special award and prize to an exceptional ‘rising star’ in the industry. All recipients of this prestigious award have exhibited initiative and leadership in the advancement of tourism as well as demonstrating commitment to the sustainable development of the Asia Pacific travel industry in line with PATA’s mission.
The PATA Face of the Future 2023 will be recognized as the PATA Face of the Future 2023 at PATA Travel Mart 2023 in New Delhi, India.Other benefits include:
Full sponsorship for participation at PATA Travel Mart 2023 (air ticket, accommodation, and event registration).
A speaking opportunity at the PATA Youth Symposium during the PATA Travel Mart 2023 to share your story about your passion and journey to success (may be replaced with a Virtual PATA Youth Symposium).ADVERTISEMENTOpportunities to speak at other PATA events or partner events on behalf of PATA.
Global media exposure via PATA’s far-reaching communication channels.
Opportunity to build their profile as a mentor for the PATA Youth Mentorship Programme to help develop young tourism professional students in the region via speaking and mentoring opportunities at PATA Youth webinars and other youth events.
One blog post on the PATA Blog to share their passion and journey to success.
Seat on the PATA Board to represent the PATA youth community.
PATA Chair Peter Semone said, “Through the PATA Face of the Future award we are able to identify young people making a meaningful contribution to the sustainable development of the travel and tourism industry across the Pacific and Asia Region. As an invited speaker at PATA events and a member of the PATA Board, the winner serves as the voice of young tourism professionals and the future of tourism. PATA is committed to engaging youth; and together co-creating a sustainable tourism future.”
For information about how to enter, eligibility, and judging criteria, please visit www.pata.org/pata-face-of-the-future or email PATA Youth Ambassador, Mr Nick Chun at [email protected]
PATA Travel Mart (PTM) is Asia Pacific’s international travel trade exhibition featuring unparalleled networking and contracting opportunities to help travel and tourism organisations access decision makers, meet new clients, expand their networks, establish new relationships and consolidate existing business partnerships. This year’s event is generously hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and consists of the Travel Mart, PTM Forums, PTM Talks and the PATA Youth Symposium.
More information about the event can be found at www.pata.org/pata-face-of-the-future.

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Yosemite’s waterfalls at their best in the last 40 years

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Thompson Hotels Brand to Launch in Palm Springs, California More

Travelport, a global technology company that powers travel bookings for hundreds of thousands of travel suppliers worldwide, and Jamie McDonald, a British adventurer better known as “Adventureman”, today announced a new world record – the fastest time to visit the new Seven Wonders of the World, achieved in less than seven days. Confirmed by Guinness World Records, the journey was achieved in 6 days, 16 hours, and 14 minutes, using only public transportation. The challenge was set to Adventureman by Travelport in order to put the company’s modern retail platform, Travelport+, to the test, proving that the company’s technology allows its travel agency partners to simply plan, book and manage even the world’s most complex trip.
“When we began upgrading our agency partners to Travelport+ in 2021, it was with the intent of making the complicated travel industry easier and faster to navigate,” said Greg Webb, Chief Executive Officer at Travelport. “This epic adventure was the ultimate test for our platform – could we take the world’s most complex trip and make it simple? Could we ensure it was easy to service? Would the platform be agile enough to accommodate whatever unforeseen bumps the trip encountered? Six days, sixteen hours and fourteen minutes later, we had our answer: yes, yes and yes. This trip also proves that, after a few challenging years for the industry, travel is most definitely back and better than ever.”
Travelport+ provides global travel agents with modern retail technology that allows them to compare millions of travel routes and select the best one for each individual traveller. Travelbag, a travel agency who has been a longtime partner of Travelport, booked all aspects of Adventureman’s trip via Travelport+, and they were able to search, filter, find, compare and build the most complex itinerary with ease using Smartpoint Cloud. Adventureman had round-the-clock access to a dedicated Travelbag Travel Specialist who, on his request, tracked evolving travel restrictions, identified schedule changes, and made necessary tweaks to his itinerary in real time. He also was able to access Travelport’s Trip Manager feature on the go, in order to add ancillaries and extras (meals, paid seats, etc.) to his itinerary. For travelers who want to visit one, or all, of the seven modern wonders themselves, Travelbag has a range of packages available, allowing travelers to visit all seven wonders of the world themselves (packages starting from £31,000) or visit an individual wonder (packages starting at £1,300 per person). Depending on each traveler’s individual requirements, Travelbag can tailor-make the perfect holiday.
“At Travelbag, we’ve planned and booked thousands of trips, and yet, even we had never seen an itinerary this complex before,” said Caroline Foxwell, Sales and Service Leader at Travelbag. “The retailing tools from Travelport+ are so powerful – Smartpoint Cloud made booking and servicing this trip so easy, it practically did the job for us. Travelport+ helps us to build the perfect itinerary for our clients, time and again, even when that client is a globetrotting, world record-setting superhero!”
Adventureman began the trip at the Great Wall of China, the world’s longest human-made structure, and the world-record clock started ticking the moment he left the first wonder via toboggan. Second, he visited India’s Taj Mahal – the country’s top tourist destination, which is widely considered a symbol of eternal love. From there, he traveled to Jordan and then by bus to the ancient city of Petra, whose carved rose-red sandstone rock facades, tombs, and temples became even more famous from their role in Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade. Departing Jordan, Adventureman flew to Rome to see its legendary Colosseum, envisioning ancient gladiator battles before he made time for a quick pizza pit stop (the only non-airplane food he consumed during the trip). Christ the Redeemer, the world’s largest art deco statue, brought Adventureman to Brazil, where he was equally in awe of the view from its platform as he was of the statue itself. The sixth wonder, Machu Pichu (an Incan citadel nearly 8,000 feet above sea level) was Adventureman’s favorite: he plans to go back one day and bought a stuffed llama toy there to bring back for his daughter. Finally, after only 6 days, 16 hours and 14 minutes, he reached Chichén Itzá, an archeological site that was a hallowed place of ceremony in the Mayan culture.ADVERTISEMENTFor Adventureman, a main focus of the record-breaking trip was raising funds for his charity, the Superhero Foundation. As a child, Jamie was diagnosed with a rare spinal condition called syringomyelia, and doctors warned his parents that he might lose the ability to walk. Through the help of many doctors, hospitals and his family, his health improved, starting him on his lifelong mission of giving back to sick kids around the world. To kick start fundraising efforts, Travelport has donated $22,856, a dollar for every mile that Jamie, a Pride of Britain winner, traveled for this challenge. The money will be utilized to continue the charity’s mission: helping families in need fund treatments, therapies and equipment that aren’t freely available to them through their traditional or local healthcare support system.
“In my previous adventures, I’ve run solo across America (the equivalent of 210 marathons) and have cycled 22,000 kilometers from Thailand to the United Kingdom, and yet, this was certainly my most complex, complicated trip yet,” said Jamie McDonald, better known as Adventureman. “With travel, there are just so many variables – weather, restrictions, delays, customs, traffic, cancellations, you name it. When you’re attempting to set a world record, speed and agility are absolutely key. There was no other partner besides Travelport that could’ve made this all possible.”
For the trip to be endorsed by Guinness World Records, Adventureman had to abide by several rules:
Use only scheduled public transportation, with licensed taxi rides unable to exceed 50 kilometersKeep a logbook with clearly indexed evidence (receipts, tickets, etc.) supporting each stepObtain receipts and/or tickets everywhere availableUse accurate professional equipment (i.e. GPS tracking equipment)Take videos and photos showing the applicant, the location and the date at each site visitedGet a written or recorded statement from an official member of staff, local dignitary and/or police officer at each siteUnderstand that the ‘clock’ starts the moment the challenger leaves the first wonder site, and it does not stop for any reason until the challenger sets foot in the final siteProtecting the environment is of the utmost importance to both Travelport and Adventureman. The company calculated the carbon emissions from Adventureman’s trip using using the Travel Impact Model, a shared framework for calculating air travel emissions, maintained by Google and developed as part of Travalyst, an independent not-for-profit organization of which Travelport is a member. Travalyst is working to unify industry tools and information to bring sustainable travel to the mainstream. As such, the total CO2 emissions of the world record trip was 2,523 kg. Travelport will remove these emissions with high-quality carbon dioxide removal services from Climeworks.
To learn more about the Seven Wonders Challenge, to book a trip to the Seven Modern Wonders, or to make a donation to the Superhero Foundation, please visit Travelport.com/7wonders.

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Renaissance Hotels Embraces the Coastal City of Porto

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Mermaid Summer School Returns to Las Vegas More